Jerry Adler

There is no particular reason why the National Museum of American Jewish History should be located in Philadelphia, rather than, say, Brooklyn, except that it happened to have been founded there in 1976, by members of Congregation Mikveh Israel. Itself dating to 1740, Mikveh Israel was in the right place and time to become known as “the Synagogue of the American Revolution,” the place where the Founding Fathers would have gone for services, if any of them had been Jewish. So five years ago, when the museum began planning a new $150 million building within sight of the Liberty Bell—opening on Nov. 26—it made sense to adopt “freedom” as the theme, rather than, say, “comedians” or “delicatessen.” The design by celebrity architect James S. Polshek embraces its historic location with glass-walled galleries on each floor overlooking Independence Mall. The exhibits, according to museum president Michael Rosenzweig, are meant to “inspire all Americans to a greater appreciation of the...

In the latest edition of Newsverse, NEWSWEEK's poetic take on the news of the day, Jerry Adler melds a children's favorite with Alan Simpson's controversial recent comment on the state of Social Security.

It may be a bad week for humans, but it's good news for the whales, who the International Whaling Commission has put off opening up to hunting again. "Krill, baby, krill!" says our news poet, Jerry Adler.

In this week's installment of Newsverse, NEWSWEEK's current-events-themed poetry series, Jerry Adler takes on the gulf oil spill. "Mud can do a tip-Top Kill. Dump some on the nearest spill. And the rest on Kim Jong-il."

"At one time people used to think of golf, and golf courses, and golf clubs as being exclusive. But I think in recent years, now you see a lot of people playing golf ... I think Tiger Woods has helped to broaden that, in the sense that he's brought golf to a lot of the cities." —Republican senatorial nominee from Kentucky Rand Paul, on why it wasn't inconsistent with his populist message to hold his victory party at a country club.
...

The story of Barack Obama’s presidency to this point has mostly been written in domestic and economic policy. But he came to office promising to change American policy and rhetoric toward the rest of the world, especially America’s historic adversaries in Asia and the Mideast. There is no disputing that he has done that, but at what costs, and to what ends?

By Jerry Adler SALT LAKE CITY— Senator Robert F. Bennett, an 18-year veteran Republican who had been seeking a fourth term, was stripped of his party’s nomination ... at the state convention here, becoming one of the first Congressional victims of the surging discontent from the Tea Party-infused Republican right.—The New York Times, May 8Death, as it must to all men, cameTo Robert Bennett in the nameOf Republican purity.Poor man, he never overcame.Accusations of civility.Implications of maturity.And as it must, obscuritySwept down to stake its claim.Instead of hemlock, he drank the tea.Instead of hemlock, he drank the teaHe was judged and found to beInsufficiently insane.Are you listening, John McCain?He would talk to Democrats.Which, to the crowd with tinfoil hats, Is like a moral stain.Some things you can’t explain.Some things you can’t explainThe words fall just like rainOn rock. And you’ll appearDefensive, insincere.The future now belongs to birthersMilitias, tenthers, and flat...